ORANGEBURG, SC (October 31, 2022) – The Claflin Lady Panthers (12-9, 7-9 CIAA) clicked on all cylinders when the team took a dominating three-set senior night win over the Livingstone Blue Bears (2-19, 0-16 CIAA), Monday evening. The Lady Panthers closed out home court with a terrific performance to claim the 25-14, 25-16, and 25-14 win in the match.
The win came on the heels of one of the best offensive performances of the season for the Lady Panthers. As a team, the Lady Panthers totaled 41 kills, the highest total for a three-set match this season for the team. It was the senior duo of Simone Newell and Danelle Branch that led the way. Newell finished the match with a season-high 15 kills and only one assist. She also added seven digs as well. Branch added her first double-double of the season with 10 kills and 15 digs in the match. Senior Mya Broom added three blocks (none solo) as well.
The Lady Panthers controlled the match from the very beginning, and they began with a dominating opening set. Claflin opened the match with a 9-2 run. Though they allowed the Blue Bears to pull to within two point, 11-9, the Lady Panthers never gave up their lead and rolled to the 25-14 win.
In the second set, the Lady Panthers had a tougher challenge, but the team was up to the task. After allowing the Blue Bears to take a 4-3 lead, the Lady Panthers went on a 7-1 run to go ahead 10-5. The Lady Panthers went ahead by as many as nine points, 23-14 after a kill from freshman Kaitlin Ham. From there, the Lady Panthers went on to seal the 25-16 win.
After recognizing their seniors between the second and third sets, the Lady Panthers went on to claim the match victory. For the first time this match, the Lady Panthers found themselves trailing by more that a point. After falling behind, 4-7, the Lady Panthers stormed back with a 6-2 run to take a 10-9 lead after a Branch block. Later in the set, the Lady Panthers mounted an 8-1 run to take a 21-13 lead. From there, the Lady Panthers cruised to the 25-14 win and sealed the three-set victory.
With the win, the Lady Panthers improve to 12-9 overall and 7-9 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) play. The team also closes home court with a 5-3 record. The Lady Panthers will now await seeding for the 2022 CIAA Volleyball Championship Tournament.
For more information on Lady Panthers volleyball, contact the Claflin University Office of Athletics Media Relations at (803) 535-5548 or log on to www.athletics.claflin.edu.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 16 | 14 | (0) | |
| 25 | 25 | 25 | (3) |
Game Recap: Women’s Volleyball |